Fuse



E. J. MMZORMBCK AWE E944.

' FUSE Filed Feb. 5, 194m Patented Apr. 4, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FUSE Edward J. McCormick, Washington, D. 0. Application February 6, 19 10, Serial No.- 317,560

12 Claims. (01. 102-76) (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a fuse.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a simple fuse which, without the use of springs, will be safe while in the bore of a gun or carried by aircraft.

A further object is to provide a fuse, especially applicable for use in a non-rotating projectile such as is used in a smooth bore mortar, in which a firing pin is normally held out of line with a primer by means of a member which is constrained to align the firing pin with the primer as said member moves forwardly during the descending trajectory of a projectile.

The specific nature of the invention as well as other objects and advantages thereof will clearly appear from a description of a preferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view of the fuse with the firing pin held in unarmed posiion.

Fig. 2 is a similar View with the firing pin in armed position.

Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views showing a modification of the striker.

Fig. 5 is a, partial longitudinal sectional view fuse casing comprising an ogival head I and a' base 8 threadedly attached thereto. The head is formed with a forwardly tapered, necked chamber 9 opening into the front end of the head and defined by a tapered wall l and a generally cylindrical wall II. The large end of the chamber 9 is closed by the base whose front face is formed with an annular groove l2 and which centrally carries a primer-detonator l3.

The wall H is counterbored to provide a shoulder M for seating a resilient, shock-absorbing washer I which may be made of felt. A metal ring l6 supported on the washer and retained by the inturned end I! of'the head constitutes a guide for a striker l8 whose lower or inner portion is formed with a. flange IQ for engaging the rear face of the ring IS. A shear pin 2|] passes through the ring and the striker and normally holds the striker in place.

A firing pin 2| universally connected to the striker as by the ball and socket joint 22 has a length whereby its point will be clear of the base when the striker is held in place in the opening of the head. The inner end of the firing pin is sheathed in a ball 23 which for this purpose is formed with a diametral aperture 24. The ball rides in the annular groove l2 of the base and is normally held in the groove and alsov against forward displacement by means of a pin 25 which extends transversely through the head and is removed before firing. The pin may also be positioned to engage the firing pin and maintain it out of line with the primer-detonator.

. When the pin is removed the firing pin 21 and the inclined wall ID of the chamber 9 will cooperate to hold the ball in the groove when a projectile equipped with the fuse is in a mortar as well as during the ascending trajectory of the projectile in flight. During the descending trajectory of the projectile the ball will slide or creep forwardly on the inclined wall ll] of chamber 9. Since the angle of fall of a projectile fired from a mortar is approximately ninety degrees the ball will advance forwardly until it becomes lodged in the neck as shown in Fig. 2. In this position it serves to align the firing pin with the primer-detonator so that the firing pin may properly function when the striker is driven inwardly on impact.

In the modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the firing pin 26 is universally connected to a striker 21 which is resiliently supported on a spring. 28. In the unarmed position shown in Fig. 3 the striker may be moved inwardly as on set-back without actuating the primer-detonator 29 since the firing pin is free to move into the ball 30. Arming of the fuse during flight is accomplished in the manner previously described.

In the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the head 3| is provided with a separate cap 32 which retains a sleeve 33. The lower portion of the sleeve is formed internally with a groove 34- for housing a ring 35 of spring wire. The ring pivotally mounts one or more similar pawls 36, preferably three, which are each disposed in a slot 31 in the sleeve. Each pawl is provided near its upper end and on its inner side with a notch 38 for receiving the inner edge of a striker 39. The striker carrying the firing pin 40 is thereby supported and held against rearward movement. The pawl is held in engagement with the striker by a spring 4| which may be conveniently seated on the cap 32. r

The lower portion of the pawl is provided with an inwardly projecting cam finger 42 adapted to be engaged by a projection 43 of the ball 44 for the purpose of moving the pawls out of engagement with the striker so that the striker may be driven inwardly on impact.

While the fuse has been particularly described for use with a projectile for mortars it is to be understood that it can also be used for bombs which are dropped from aircraft.

I claim:

1. In a fuse, a casing having an internal wall defining a forwardly tapered chamber with a neck portion, a floor for the chamber having an annular groove, a primer in the floor within the annular groove and in line with the neck portion of the chamber, a striker mounted in'the neck portion of the chamber, a firing pin universally connected to the inner end of the striker, a ball adapted to ride in the annular groove and having an aperture receiving the'inner end of the firing pin, said ball movable forwardly during flight to lodge in the neck portion of the chamher and align the firing pin with the primer, and removable means for holding the ball in the annular groove.

2. In a fuse, a casing having an internal Wall defining a forwardly tapered chamber with a neck portion, a floor for the 'chamber'having an annular groove, a primer in the floor within the annular groove and in line with the neck portion of the chamber, a striker mounted in the neck portion of the chamber, a firing pin universally connected to the inner end of the striker, a ball adapted to ride in the annular groove and having an aperture receiving the inner end of the firing pin, said ball movable forwardly during flight to lodge in the neck portion of the chamber and align the firing'pin with the primer.

3. In a fuse, a casing having an internal wall defining a forwardly tapered chamber with a neck portion, a floor for the chamber, a primer in the floor in line with the neck portion of the chamber, a striker mounted in the neck portion of the chamber, a firing pin universally connected to the inner end of the striker, a ball adapted to rest on the floor at one side of the primer and having an aperture receiving the inner end of the firing pin, said ball movable forwardly during fiight to lodge in the neck portion of: the chamber and align the firing pin with the primer, and removable means for holding the ball at one side of the primer.

4. In a fuse, a casing having an internal wall defining a forwardly tapered chamber with a neck portion, a floor for the chamber, a primer in the floor in line with the neck portion of the chamber, a striker mounted in the neck portion of the chamber, a firing pin universally connected to the inner end of the striker, a ball adapted to rest on the floor at one side of the primer and having an aperture receiving the inner end of the firing pin, said ball movable forwardly during flight to lodge in the neck portion of the chamber and align the firing pin with the primer.

5. In a fuse, a casing, a' primer in the casing, a striker resiliently mounted in the casing in line with the primer, a firing pin universally connected to the striker, a ball in the casing normally positioned at one side of the primer and having an aperture receiving the inner end of the firing pin, said ball movable forwardly during flight, and means in the casing for constraining the ball to a position in alignment with the primer as it moves forwardly to bring the firing pin into alignment with the primer. 1

6, In a fuse, a casing, a primer in the casing, a striker mounted in the casing in line with the primer, a firing pin universally connected to the striker, a ball in the casing normally positioned at one side of the primer and having an aperture receiving the inner end of the firing pin, said .ball movable forwardly during fiight, and means means holding the firing pin out of line with the primer andmovable forwardly on the firing pin a during flight to align the firing pin and primer and move the pawls out of engagement with the striker.

8. In a fuse, a casing, a primer in the casing, a striker mounted in the casing in line with the primer, a member in the casing for holding the striker against inward movement, a firing pin pivotally carried by the striker, and weight means carried by the firing pin holding the firing pin out of line with the primer when in rearward position and movable forwardly on the firing pin during fiight to align the firing pin and primer and move the holding member out of engagement with the striker.

9. A fuse comprising a casing, a primer, a firing pin, a pivotal mounting for said firing pin in said casing, weight means carried by the firing pin and slidable thereon, and means on the casing coacting with the weight means to ensure alignment of the firing pin with the primer as the weight means moves toward the pivotal mounting.

10. In a fuse, a primer, a firing pin in advance of said primer, a pivotal support for the forward portion of said firing pin whereby the latter is swingable into and 'out of alignment with said primer, weight means carried by said firing pin and slidable thereon and means in the fuse to coact with the weight means to align the firing pin with the primer when the weight means advances toward the pivotal support on deceleration of the fuse or under the action of gravity.

11. In a fuse, a casing, a firing pin in the casing having a pivotal mounting, a primer in the easing, weight means carried by the'firing pin and slidable thereon, receiving means in the casing for the weight means when the latter is urged by forces in a direction away from the pivotal mounting, said pin being out of alignment with said primer when said weight means is in said receiving means, said casing being constructed and arranged to guide said weight means when the latter is subjected to forces in a direction toward the pivotal mounting to align said firing pin with said primer.

12. In a fuse, a casing, a pivotally mounted firing pin in the casing, a primer in the casing, weight means carried by the firing pin, holding the firing pin out of line with the primer when positioned 'rearwardly and freely mounted .on said firing pin so as to be movable forwardly on the firing pin during downward fiight under the force of gravity, and means on the casing coacting with the weight means in forward motion thereof to align the firing pin with the primer.

EDWARD J. MCCORMICK. 

